While the eunuch faction led by Wei Zhongxian was throwing the Ming court into chaos, the Khan of Later Jin, Nurhaci, was continuously attacking Ming forces in Liaodong. After the Battle of Sarhu, the Ming dynasty sent an experienced general, Xiong Tingbi, beyond the pass to command military affairs in Liaodong. Xiong Tingbi was a highly capable commander, but Wang Huazhen, the provincial governor of Guangning (present-day Beizhen, Liaoning), felt that Xiong’s presence would undermine his own authority and thus did everything possible to obstruct Xiong Tingbi’s command. In 1622 AD, when Nurhaci attacked Guangning, Wang Huazhen fled into the pass at the head of his troops. Unable to resist effectively, Xiong Tingbi could only protect some civilians as they retreated to within Shanhaiguan.
After Guangning fell, the Ming court, without distinguishing right from wrong, imprisoned both Xiong Tingbi and Wang Huazhen. Seizing the opportunity, Wei Zhongxian extorted money from Xiong Tingbi, demanding 40,000 taels of silver to spare his life. Xiong, an upright man, had no such funds and naturally refused. The eunuch faction then falsely accused Xiong of embezzling military provisions and executed him.
With Xiong Tingbi dead, who could the Ming dynasty send to resist the Later Jin army? The Ministry of War was deeply worried. At this very moment, Yuan Chonghuan, a low-ranking official (zhushi), suddenly disappeared. When officials went to his home to look for him, even his family didn’t know where he had gone. A few days later, Yuan returned, explaining that, seeing the nation’s perilous situation, he had ridden alone beyond Shanhaiguan to conduct a personal reconnaissance.
After thoroughly studying the situation inside and outside the pass, Yuan reported back to Sun Chengzong, Minister of War, saying: "If you give me troops, horses, and supplies, I can take responsibility for defending Liaodong."
Court ministers, terrified by the Later Jin offensive, were heartened by Yuan Chonghuan’s initiative and agreed to let him try. The Ming Emperor Xizong approved 200,000 taels of military funds for him and appointed him to supervise Ming forces beyond the pass.
The area beyond the pass, ravaged by years of war, lay desolate with corpses scattered everywhere. Harsh winters, snow-covered lands, and roaming wild beasts made conditions extremely difficult. After crossing the pass, Yuan Chonghuan, accompanied by a few attendants, rode through the wilderness overnight and reached Qiantun near Ningyuan (present-day Xingcheng, Liaoning) before dawn. There, he sheltered refugees and began building fortifications. The soldiers and officers there deeply admired Yuan Chonghuan’s courage and perseverance.
After conducting a thorough field investigation, Yuan Chonghuan resolved to station troops in Ningyuan and build defensive works there. Upon reporting his plan to the imperial court, he immediately received Sun Chengzong’s support.
Yuan built a city wall in Ningyuan three zhang two chi high and two zhang wide, equipping it with various firearms and cannons. Sun Chengzong also dispatched several units to garrison nearby areas such as Jinzhou and Songshan to provide reinforcements for Ningyuan.
Yuan Chonghuan enforced strict discipline and won the affection of both soldiers and civilians. Merchants from across the region beyond the pass, hearing that Ningyuan’s defenses were solid, flocked to the city from all directions. The dire situation in Liaodong quickly turned around.
Just as Sun Chengzong and Yuan Chonghuan were making progress in defending Liaodong, they incurred the suspicion of Wei Zhongxian. Wei incited his eunuch faction to slander Sun Chengzong, forcing Sun to resign.
Having ousted Sun Chengzong, Wei Zhongxian appointed his ally Gao Di to command military affairs in Liaodong. Gao Di was incompetent and cowardly. Upon arriving at Shanhaiguan, he gathered his generals and declared that the Later Jin forces were too powerful to resist beyond the pass and ordered all Ming armies to withdraw inside Shanhaiguan.
Yuan Chonghuan firmly opposed the retreat, saying: "We’ve struggled so hard to establish ourselves beyond the pass—how can we abandon it so easily?"
Gao Di insisted that Yuan abandon Ningyuan. Enraged, Yuan replied: "My duty is to defend Ningyuan. If I must die, I will die here—I will never retreat."
Unable to persuade Yuan, Gao Di reluctantly allowed him to keep a portion of the Ming forces in Ningyuan, but issued orders requiring all other Ming troops beyond the pass to withdraw inside within a set time limit. This order came suddenly, catching local defenders completely unprepared. They hastily retreated, abandoning over one hundred thousand dan of stored grain beyond the pass.
Seeing the disorganized Ming retreat, Nurhaci believed the Ming were easy to defeat. In 1626 AD, he personally led an army of 130,000 men across the Liao River to attack Ningyuan.
By then, Ming forces stationed at outposts around Ningyuan had already withdrawn. The city was left with only over ten thousand soldiers, isolated and vulnerable. But Yuan Chonghuan remained undaunted. He bit his finger to write a blood oath vowing to fight to the death against the Later Jin, showing it to his officers and soldiers and delivering an inspiring speech. Deeply moved, the troops’ blood surged with passion, unanimously declaring their determination to follow General Yuan in defending Ningyuan to the last.
Next, Yuan ordered all civilians outside the city walls to bring their food and belongings into the city and had the civilian houses outside burned down, denying supplies and cover to the incoming Later Jin forces. He assigned tasks to city officials—some managing food supplies, others investigating spies. He also sent word to Ming commanders at Shanhaiguan: any officer or soldier fleeing from Ningyuan back into the pass should be executed on the spot. These measures stabilized morale in Ningyuan; everyone focused solely on defending the city and fighting the enemy.
About twenty days later, Nurhaci led the Later Jin army in a fierce assault on Ningyuan. Large numbers of Later Jin soldiers, shielding themselves with rattan shields, braved Ming arrows, stones, and artillery fire to storm the city walls. Although the Ming troops resisted bravely, every wave of attackers that fell was replaced by another. At this critical juncture, Yuan Chonghuan ordered the use of pre-positioned cannons. Wherever the cannons fired, flames erupted and Later Jin soldiers were blown apart, their bodies and limbs flying everywhere. The survivors were forced to retreat.
The next day, Nurhaci personally directed the assault, concentrating large forces on the city. Yuan Chonghuan ascended the watchtower atop the city wall, calmly observing the enemy movements. Only when the Later Jin troops approached close to the walls did he order the gunners to aim and fire at the densest clusters of enemies. This cannonade inflicted even heavier casualties. Nurhaci, who was directing the battle from the rear, suffered serious injuries and had no choice but to order a retreat.
Upon learning of the enemy withdrawal, Yuan Chonghuan led a victorious sortie from the city, pursuing the retreating army for thirty li before returning triumphantly.
Nurhaci, severely wounded, returned to Shenyang and said to his subordinates: "Since I was twenty-five, I have been undefeated in battle and conquest—yet I never imagined that this small city of Ningyuan could not be taken." Filled with rage and despair, and with his wounds worsening, he died a few days later. His eighth son, Hong Taiji, succeeded him as Khan of Later Jin.